Recommend your Garmin

[lilypad1126]

I'm in need of a "real" running watch. My apple watch isn't cutting it and today was my breaking point. Even though I use a a 3rd party app, and not the workout feature that come with my watch, it isn't working for me. And since I want to be more serious this year, and I'm hiring a running coach, Garmin is the way to go, I've decided.

So. My questions:
1. Do you feel they are accurate? Time/distance? My current watch slows down my time as I speed up, and then to reach 10miles I have to go 10.5 (for example). I'm over it. 

2. Which one? I don't have a budget per se, and will spend what i need to, to get the best results, though obviously I'd rather spend less than more. I only run, though sometimes I'll indoor cycle for my cross training.

3. I always run with my phone, so I don't care about storing music on my phone.

There are so many options. Help!

[foundmylazybum]

I have the good ole Garmin 235. It has a wrist based HRM but you can also get the more accurate chest strap option if that's your thing.


1. Yes, I feel its distance, speed and time accurate.

3. It connects to my phone and will send messages like texts etc to ke, but it doesnt play music or anything. That's just not stuff I need.

[claudiakishi]

I got the Garmin Vivoactiv 3 with music as a gift. I don’t use the music part 😂 because I like to look at my phone and know what’s about to play and what to skip to (I’m super anal about music when I run).

I really like it. It has a heart rate monitor and it’s very accurate. The mileage and time seems accurate to me as well. I also like that I can track other activities like OrangeTheory or biking with it. I love the Garmin Connect app and analyzing all my data.

It does recieve texts and stuff too but I don’t use it for that.

[Wines Not Whines]

Yes, I think my Garmin is accurate the vast majority of the time.

I have a Fenix 5S and I loooove it, but it’s one of the more expensive options. I got it because it has some trail running features and I like the way it looks. I used to have a 220 and I liked it. I think that model may have been replaced by the 230 or 235.

[luckystar2]

I have a Garmin 220 and an Apple Watch. I much prefer the Garmin for accuracy. I have only had 1 problem with it losing signal and being off and was in rural area. It was brief and not a big deal. I’ve often worn both to test accuracy and my Apple Watch is ok on short runs near home but I’ve had issues as I increase the distance. And it was like 2 miles off during a rural 10 mile race so I will never use it for races again.

My Garmin is older but I definitely prefer it and the next time I need to upgrade I am sure I will go with Garmin.

[oswin]

I have the Forerunner 935, which is kind of the cheaper cousin of the Fenix5. I don't run a huge amount, but the estimated pace, distance, time, etc seem to be pretty accurate. Wrist HR seems pretty accurate for running and completely wrong when I use "cardio" mode (which is what I use for CrossFit workouts) - like reading below 90 when I am breathing hard. I have also noticed that altitude/altitude change readings are inaccurate - this is mostly noticable when I start and finish in the same place but the elevation gain and loss numbers don't line up. Also related to altitude, it counts flights of stairs that I don't climb. Like, it way over counts stairs.

Anyway, overall I am pleased with it. I know that if I needed accurate heartrate, a chest strap is still the way to go.

[cinco]

I have a 235. It’s great! my husband and daughter both have a refurbished cheaper model- the 25. They are all durable and accurate, it just depends what you want. In a pinch even the cheaper models have everything I really care about. The other stuff is all extra.

[gt7301b]

I have both a Garmin 225 and the 645 music. The 645 music has more features than you need, but I LOVE it. I really like having access to heart rate data and the heart rate data on the 645 is so much more accurate than the heart rate data on the 225. I had a Vivoactive that I returned because the touch features didn't work at all during speed workouts, but I think it would have been fine for a basic running watch.

[irene adler]

I have a vivoactive 3 (the version before the one with music), and I LOVE it. I primarily use it for running and indoor cycling (and the occasional random cardio/cycling/pool workout), and it has so many cool features without overkill for my casual approach to training (more advanced versions calculate training load/recovery time)

My only complaint is that the elevation readings on my run are ALWAYS wrong.

[InBetweenDays]

This probably won't be helpful but I have a 9 year old Garmin Forerunner 305. Looks like I'm wearing a computer on my wrist but it still works great! H got me something to replace it a few years ago but I returned the one he ghaveot because I still loved the 305.

I am going to follow this thread though because I think the battery is starting to go so I may need to start looking at new options.

[vcubergirl]

I have a vivoactive 3 as well and I love it. I think the GPS is fairly accurate, and for me I'm not sure the elevation is correct, but I believe that the elevation gain/loss is pretty accurate. I swim quite a bit in addition to running (and yoga and lifting) so I like having it for that.

[lilypad1126]

Thank you for all the feedback. I still haven't decided, but "real" reviews are super helpful to me! Whyyyyyy are there so many options?! LOL

[wambam]

I have the 225. I feel it is accurate and sufficient for my needs. I also run with my phone, so I don't need music. I wear it all day because it tracks steps, which I like.

[arch01]

Feb 17, 2019 21:43:03 GMT -5 irene adler said:

I have a vivoactive 3 (the version before the one with music), and I LOVE it. I primarily use it for running and indoor cycling (and the occasional random cardio/cycling/pool workout), and it has so many cool features without overkill for my casual approach to training (more advanced versions calculate training load/recovery time)

My only complaint is that the elevation readings on my run are ALWAYS wrong.

Send a note to Garmin, that's how I got mine replaced for free. Then they replaced the replacement for no reason LOL

I love my Vivoactive 3. 

[chw57]

I have the Fenix 5x which is ridiculously huge but I wanted something good for trail running, hiking, and triathlon, and it does it all. I looooove it.

[labbie]

Feb 18, 2019 8:44:21 GMT -5 lilypad1126 said:

Thank you for all the feedback. I still haven't decided, but "real" reviews are super helpful to me! Whyyyyyy are there so many options?! LOL

It is so overwhelming! I waffled for over a year or more before pulling the trigger. It depends on your goals. For me, I am a slow runner with ultra-marathon goals, so a long battery life was key (that said, most of the Garmins are able to be charged while in use). I combed over the DC Rainmaker reviews and his comparison tool that helped me learn about all the features and whether I needed them. www.dcrainmaker.com/product-comparison-calculator

I ended up with the 935, which is the Fenix 5 in a plastic vs. a metal body. Leave it to me, I chose to purchase over this past holiday season when the 1st time in history the 935 was actually more than the Fenix5/5S when they were all on sale. Oh well.
My LRS had a Garmin info night and I got to try all of them on. Although I liked the looks of the 5, the minute I put on the 935 I was sold, it was so much lighter on my wrist. Also, I am going to be using it for backpacking trips and it seemed more comfortable for that as well. I do wear it everyday in a business casual environment, it's large and I don't care because I'm in love! Still learning all that it can do. 

[Jo]

I just replaced my garmin 735xt with an Apple Watch series 4. I was surprised to discover that a couple of sports tech bloggers that I like (DC Rainmaker and the5Krunner) both found that the series 4 compared favorably to garmin and similar (apparently the 3 totally sucked, so it depends which version you have).

My garmin was getting older and starting to have moments when it wasn’t so awesome, needed resetting frequently, and was starting to be really off for the HRM. So far I really love the Apple Watch. It’s very comparable to the garmin for gos/distance on routes I know, and it does a ton more. If I was looking fir another garmin, I’d go for the Fenix 5s, butim really happy with my choice, at least so far.

[lilypad1126]

Feb 18, 2019 21:05:34 GMT -5 Jo said:

I just replaced my garmin 735xt with an Apple Watch series 4. I was surprised to discover that a couple of sports tech bloggers that I like (DC Rainmaker and the5Krunner) both found that the series 4 compared favorably to garmin and similar (apparently the 3 totally sucked, so it depends which version you have).

My garmin was getting older and starting to have moments when it wasn’t so awesome, needed resetting frequently, and was starting to be really off for the HRM. So far I really love the Apple Watch. It’s very comparable to the garmin for gos/distance on routes I know, and it does a ton more. If I was looking fir another garmin, I’d go for the Fenix 5s, butim really happy with my choice, at least so far.

I am such an Apple fan, so this is definitely going to be rough. HAHA. I have an older model apple watch, which may be part of the problem. That said, now that I've moved out of "casual runner who just wants to complete her marathon" to "runner with BIG goals and a coach" it seems like I should at least try a garmin. There are features I wish I had on my Apple watch that garmins come with, and since I can afford to replace/upgrade, now seems like the right time.

The good news is, if I really hate it, I can always go back to Apple.

[itsme]

I have the Fenix 5s and I feel it is pretty accurate. I had a Polar previous to that which was fine and tried an Apple Watch and that definitely didn't cut it for me.

[hurricanedrunk]

I feel like my garmin is pretty accurate. I have the Fenix 5s for a little over a year now and really like it. I wear it all the time and like the all the various settings for biking, lifting, tris & indoor running. Friend A has the Vivoactive 3 and got hers around the same time I did. She wears hers all the time and mostly uses it for running, yoga and lifting. Friend B has the Forerunner 235 which she only puts on for running and doesn't track any of her other workouts with it (not saying that you couldn't do so) and again she really likes it as well. When we run together we are very close in distance.Friend C just got an apple watch so it will be interesting to get her feedback over time on how she likes it.

Good luck I agree that there are so many choices!